Latch up detection

Abstract

A device is presented. The device includes a first circuit coupled to first and second power rails of the device. The first circuit is subject to a latch up event in the presence of a latch up condition. The latch up event includes a low resistance path created between the first and second power rails. The device also includes a latch up sensing (LUS) circuit coupled to the first circuit. The LUS circuit is configured to receive a LUS input signal from the first circuit and generates a LUS output signal to the first circuit. When the input signal is an active latch up signal which indicates the presence of a latch up condition, the LUS circuit generates an active LUS output signal which creates a break in the low resistance path to terminate the latch up event.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device comprising:
 a first circuit directly coupled to both first and second power rails of the device, the first circuit comprises complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors, the first circuit is subject to a latch up event in the presence of a latch up condition, the latch up event includes a low resistance path created between the first and second power rails; 
 a latch up sensing (LUS) circuit, wherein the LUS circuit senses a latch up condition in the first circuit and terminates the latch up event when the latch up condition is sensed, the LUS circuit and the first circuit are distinct circuits, the LUS circuit is coupled to the first circuit, wherein the LUS circuit is configured to receive a LUS input signal at a LUS input from the first circuit and generate a LUS output signal at a LUS output to the first circuit, the LUS input signal and LUS output signal comprise voltage signals, wherein
 the LUS circuit includes first and second transistors coupled in between the first and second power rails, 
 the first transistor is a p-type MOS transistor and includes a first p-transistor terminal, a second p-transistor terminal, a p-transistor body, and a p-transistor gate terminal, wherein the first p-transistor terminal is coupled to the first power rail, the second p-transistor terminal is coupled to the LUS output of the LUS circuit, and the p-transistor body is coupled to the first p-transistor terminal, 
 the second transistor is a n-type MOS transistor and includes a first n-transistor terminal, a second n-transistor terminal, a n-transistor body, and a n-transistor gate terminal, wherein the first n-transistor terminal is coupled to the second power rail, the second n-transistor terminal is coupled to the p-transistor gate terminal, the n-transistor gate terminal is coupled to the LUS input of the LUS circuit, and the n-transistor body is coupled to the first n-transistor terminal, and 
 when the input signal is an active latch up signal which indicates the presence of the latch up condition, the LUS circuit generates an active LUS output signal which creates a break in the low resistance path to terminate the latch up event. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein the first circuit includes a pnpn structure. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1  wherein the first circuit includes an inverter. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3  wherein the inverter includes a parasitic circuit having
 a first pnp parasitic bipolar transistor Q 1  having a first collector terminal, a first emitter terminal and a first base terminal, and 
 a second npn parasitic bipolar transistor Q 2  having a second collector terminal, a second emitter terminal and a second base terminal. 
 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4  wherein:
 the LUS output is coupled to the first base terminal; and 
 the break in the low resistance path is created by switching off Q 1 . 
 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 4  wherein:
 the LUS output is coupled to the first base terminal; and 
 the active LUS output signal switches off Q 1  to break the low resistance path to terminate the latch up event. 
 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6  wherein the LUS input is coupled to the second base terminal of Q 2 . 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1  wherein the first power rail is V DD  and the second power rail is V SS . 
     
     
       9. A method of forming a device comprising:
 providing a substrate for the device; 
 forming a first circuit on the substrate, the first circuit is directly coupled to both first and second power rails of the device, the first circuit comprises complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors, the first circuit is subject to a latch up event in the presence of a latch up condition, the latch up event includes a low resistance path created between the first and second power rails; and 
 forming a latch up sensing (LUS) circuit on the substrate, wherein the LUS circuit senses a latch up condition in the first circuit and terminates the latch up event when the latch up condition is sensed, the LUS circuit and the first circuit are distinct circuits, the LUS circuit is coupled to the first circuit, wherein the LUS circuit is configured to receive a LUS input signal at a LUS input from the first circuit and generates a LUS output signal at a LUS output to the first circuit, the LUS input signal and LUS output signal comprise voltage signals, wherein
 forming the LUS circuit includes forming
 a first p-type transistor comprising a first p-transistor terminal, a second p-transistor terminal, a p-transistor body, and a p-transistor gate terminal, wherein the first p-transistor terminal is coupled to the first power rail, the second p-transistor terminal is coupled to the LUS output of the LUS circuit, and the p-transistor body is coupled to the first p-transistor terminal, and 
 a second n-type transistor comprising a first n-transistor terminal, a second n-transistor terminal, a n-transistor body, and a n-transistor gate terminal, wherein the first n-transistor terminal is coupled to the second power rail, the second n-transistor terminal is coupled to the p-transistor gate terminal, the n-transistor gate terminal is coupled to the LUS input of the LUS circuit, and the n-transistor body is coupled to the first n-transistor terminal, and 
 
 when the input signal is an active latch up signal which indicates the presence of a latch up condition, the LUS circuit generates an active LUS output signal which creates a break in the low resistance path to terminate the latch up event. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein forming the first circuit includes forming a pnpn structure on the substrate which comprises:
 a first pnp parasitic bipolar transistor Q 1  having a first collector terminal, a first emitter terminal and a first base terminal; 
 a second npn parasitic bipolar transistor Q 2  having a second collector terminal, a second emitter terminal and a second base terminal; and 
 wherein the low resistance path is from the first power rail and through the first emitter terminal, first base terminal, second collector terminal, second emitter terminal and to the second power rail. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein forming the first circuit comprises forming an inverter on the substrate. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein the active LUS output signal switches off Q 1  to break the low resistance path to terminate the latch up event. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10  wherein:
 the LUS input is coupled to the second base terminal of Q 2 ; 
 the LUS output is coupled to the first base terminal of Q 1 ; and 
 the active LUS output signal switches off Q 1  to break the low resistance path to terminate the latch up event. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9  wherein the first power rail is V DD  and the second power rail is V SS . 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9  wherein:
 the first circuit comprises an inverter which includes a parasitic circuit having
 a first pnp parasitic bipolar transistor Q 1  having a first collector terminal, a first emitter terminal and a first base terminal, and 
 a second npn parasitic bipolar transistor Q 2  having a second collector terminal, a second emitter terminal and a second base terminal; 
 
 the LUS input is coupled to the second base terminal of Q 2 ; 
 the LUS output is coupled to the first base terminal of Q 1 ; and 
 
       the active LUS output signal switches off Q 1  to break the low resistance path to terminate the latch up event.